U.S. patent number 6,341,770 [Application Number 09/841,818] was granted by the patent office on 2002-01-29 for cutting board combination.
Invention is credited to Joseph P. Landherr.
United States Patent |
6,341,770 |
Landherr |
January 29, 2002 |
Cutting board combination
Abstract
A cutting board combination for use with a double basin sink
having a sink divider separating the two basins. The cutting board
combination includes a first cutting board that has a flat upper
cutting surface and a pair of spaced apart legs fixed to the bottom
surface. The legs are spaced apart to straddle the sink divider
with the cutting board base supported on it with lateral edges
overlapping the sink basins on either side. The cutting board
combination includes a second cutting board that can be connected
at an inner lateral edge to a lateral edge of the first cutting
board. The second cutting board is connected to the first in such a
fashion that the work surfaces of the two are coplanar. The inner
lateral edge of the second cutting board is supported by the first
cutting board. The second cutting board has a length sufficient so
that it spans the sink basin with the outer lateral edge supported
on the sink rim.
Inventors: |
Landherr; Joseph P. (Rose
Creek, MN) |
Family
ID: |
26896231 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/841,818 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
269/289R;
269/302.1; 269/308; 269/309 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
47/005 (20130101); A47J 47/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
47/20 (20060101); A47J 47/00 (20060101); B23Q
003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;269/302.1,289R,309,308,290 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hail, III; Joseph J.
Assistant Examiner: Wilson; Lee
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gutenkauf; Robert W. Reid; Malcolm
D. Forrest; Peter
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/200,924 filed May 1, 2000.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A cutting board combination for temporary installation on a
double basin sink of the type having a sink divider between the
basins, and a sink rim, comprising:
a first cutting board having lateral edges, an upper work surface,
a bottom surface, and first and second legs connected to the bottom
surface adapted to straddle a sink divider of a double basin sink
with the lateral edges of the first cutting board overhanging the
basins of the sink;
a second cutting board having an upper work surface and inner and
outer lateral edges;
first connecting means on the first cutting board;
second connecting means on the second cutting board;
said first and second connecting means being interconnectable so
that the inner lateral edge of the second cutting board abuts a
lateral edge of the first cutting board with the work surfaces of
the two cutting boards substantially coplanar, and the inner
lateral edge of the second cutting board is supported by the first
cutting board;
said second cutting board having a length sufficient that the outer
lateral edge thereof rests upon the sink rim when the first and
second connecting means are connected and the first cutting board
is installed on a sink divider.
2. The cutting board combination of claim 1 wherein:
the first connecting means is on a lateral edge of the first
cutting board and the second connecting means is on the inner edge
of the second cutting board.
3. The cutting board assembly of claim 2 including:
a first connecting means on each lateral edge of the first cutting
board.
4. The cutting board of claim 2 wherein:
said first connecting means includes a hook-like connecting member
and the second connecting means includes a receptacle opening of
complementary size for receipt of the first connecting member.
5. The cutting board of claim 2 wherein:
the first connecting means includes a connecting member having a
neck connected to a lateral edge of the first cutting board;
a lip connected to the neck having a length and width greater than
the neck but less than corresponding dimensions of the lateral edge
of the first cutting board;
said second connecting means including a receptacle opening in the
inner lateral edge of the second cutting board, said receptacle
opening including a first slot that is laterally and downwardly
open and of a size for receipt of the neck of the connecting member
on the first cutting board, and a second downwardly open slot
connected to the first slot and wider and longer than the first
slot so that the lip of the first connecting member fits in the
second slot with the neck thereof positioned in the first slot.
6. The cutting board combination of claim 5 wherein:
the second cutting board is longer and wider that the first cutting
board.
7. The cutting board combination of claim 6 including:
first connecting means on both lateral edges of the first cutting
board.
8. The cutting board combination of claim 6 wherein:
the positions of the first and second legs are adjustable on the
bottom surface of the first cutting board.
9. The cutting board combination of claim 8 including:
a plurality of threaded openings tapped into the bottom surface of
the first cutting board;
each leg having a axial bore and a bolt extended through it for
engagement with one of the openings in the bottom surface of the
first cutting board.
10. The cutting board combination of claim 9 wherein:
the threaded openings are in a symmetrical pattern of groups of
two.
11. The cutting board combination of claim 10 including:
a peg on each leg spaced from the bore and facing the bottom
surface of the first cutting board; selected of said holes arranged
apart a distance equal to the distance between the peg and the bore
on a leg so that when the bolt engages an opening in the bottom
surface of the first cutting board, the peg occupies another
hole.
12. The cutting board combination of claim 1 wherein:
the positions of the first and second legs are adjustable on the
bottom surface of the first cutting board.
13. The cutting board combination of claim 12 including:
a plurality of threaded openings tapped into the bottom surface of
the first cutting board;
each leg having a axial bore and a bolt extended through it for
engagement with one of the openings in the bottom surface of the
first cutting board.
14. The cutting board combination of claim 13 wherein:
the threaded openings are in a symmetrical pattern of groups of
two.
15. The cutting board combination of claim 14 including:
a peg on each leg spaced from the bore and facing the bottom
surface of the first cutting board; selected of said holes arranged
apart a distance equal to the distance between the peg and the bore
on a leg so that when the bolt engages an opening in the bottom
surface of the first cutting board, the peg occupies another hole.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Food preparation that involves cutting, slicing and chopping is
conveniently done over the kitchen sink. Food scraps to be
discarded are easily swept into the sink basin with access to the
waste disposal unit. Food in stages of preparation is easily
washed. For this reason some over-the-sink chopping boards have
been suggested. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,162 to Crew,
and U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,603 to Huppert as well as U.S. Pat. No.
4,243,184 to Wright. Such devices also add food preparation surface
to the existing kitchen counter space which might already be
crowded as during preparation of a large meal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly stated, the present invention is directed to a cutting
board combination for use with a double basin sink of the type
having a sink divider between the basins. The combination cutting
board includes a first, smaller cutting board adapted to be
removably mounted on the divider separating the sink basins. The
first cutting board is comprised of a generally rectangular hard
slab-like member having a top, flat, relatively indestructible
smooth work surface. A pair of spaced apart vertically depending
legs are rigidly secured to the bottom surface of the first cutting
board. The legs are adapted to straddle the sink divider with the
cutting board resting upon it whereby the first cutting board is
usable as a stand-alone cutting board with lateral edges that
overhand the sink basins.
The cutting board combination includes a second, larger cutting
board that can be connected to the first cutting board to increase
the work surface area. One lateral edge of the second cutting board
abuts a lateral edge of the first cutting board. The second cutting
board is long enough to span the width of the sink basin so that
the opposite lateral edge overlaps the sink rim. The second cutting
board is likewise comprised of a flat, rectangular slap-like member
with a flat top surface that is preferably flush with the top
surface of the first cutting board when the two are connected. The
first cutting board has connecting means on both lateral edges so
that the second cutting board can be connected to either side to
span either sink basin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a double basin sink with a sink
divider separating the basins and a cutting board combination of
the invention installed thereon;
FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the first cutting board of the
combination cutting board shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the first cutting board shown
in FIG. 2 with portions broken away for purposes of
illustration;
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the first cutting board shown
in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom view in perspective of a portion of
the second cutting board of the cutting board combination of the
invention;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the cutting board of
FIG. 5 taken along the line 6--6 thereof;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view like that of FIG. 6 but showing the edge
of the first cutting board interlocked with the edge of the second
cutting board; and
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the first cutting board.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is
shown a cutting board combination according to the invention
indicated generally at 10 installed on a double basin sink 11. Sink
11 has a right basin 12 and a left basin 14 separated by a divider
15 and surrounded by a rim 16.
The cutting board combination includes a first, smaller cutting
board 17 and a second, larger cutting board 18. The first cutting
board 17 is installed on the sink divider 15 with lateral edges
overlapping the right and left sink basins 12 and 14. The second
cutting board 18 is interlocked with the first cutting board. An
inner lateral edge of the second cutting board 18 is connected to
and supported by one end of first cutting board 17. The second
cutting board 18 is longer and wider than the first. It has a
length sufficient to span the sink basin. The outer lateral edge of
second cutting board 18 opposite the first cutting board rests upon
and is supported by the sink rim.
Each of the cutting boards is comprised of a generally rectangular,
slab-like member with a flat upper cutting or work surface.
Preferably each slab is constructed of a hard, relatively
indestructible material presenting a suitable work surface for
cutting meat, slicing and chopping vegetables, and the like.
Exemplary materials include stone, such as marble; treated woods;
hard synthetic resinous plastic materials, such as acrylics
(Corian); metal such as aluminum; pyrolitic carbon; and the
like.
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the first cutting board 17 is
adapted to be installed on the sink divider 15 and used thereon as
a stand alone cutting board. The first cutting board 17 has a pair
of legs 19, 21 rigidly fixed to the bottom surface of the base 20
of the cutting board and extending downwardly therefrom. Legs 19,
21 are desirably rectangular in cross-section and are spaced apart
a distance to straddle the sink divider 15 and engage opposite
sides thereof
As shown in FIG. 2, the legs 19, 21 can be mounted off-center of a
lateral centerline through the base of the cutting board. This
lends versatility to positioning of the cutting board on the sink
divider. The legs can be permanently connected to the base of the
cutting board, or, as shown in the drawings, the legs can be
removably secured and adjustable in order to accommodate different
sizes of sink dividers. The bottom surface of base 20 of first
cutting board 17 has an array of threaded mounting holes 25 tapped
therein for mounting the legs 19,21. As shown in FIG. 3, a leg 19
has a longitudinal countersunk bore 23. A bolt 22 is located in the
bore 23 and has an end threaded into one of the holes 25. The end
of the leg abutting the bottom surface of base 20 has a peg 26. The
peg 26 occupies another one of the holes 25. The pegs on the legs
orient the legs so that their inside facing surfaces are maintained
parallel for best engagement with the sink divider and to prevent
rotation of the legs. Peg 26 is spaced from bore 23 by a distance
equal to the spacing between adjacent holes 25 go that the peg is
assured of having a hole to fit in when a bolt 22 is threaded into
one of the holes. The holes 25 are provided in a symmetrical
pattern of spaced apart groups of two to permit symmetrical
location of the legs with a spacing best adapted to engage the
sides of the sink divider 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the peg and bore
of a leg are aligned with one side of the leg and are centrally
offset. This allows rotation of the leg 180.degree. to achieve a
different spacing between the two legs.
The first cutting board 17 and the second cutting board 18 are
releasably connectable so that one (inner) lateral edge of the
second cutting board is supported by a lateral edge of the first
cutting board, and the opposite (outer) lateral edge of the second
cutting board is supported on the sink rim. A first connector is
located on the first cutting board and a second connector is
located on the second cutting board. The connecting structure on
the first cutting board functions to support and interlock the
inner edge of the second cutting board. The first cutting board can
have a pair of connectors, one on each lateral edge, so that the
second cutting board can conveniently be assembled to either
lateral edge of the first board and span the respective sink basin.
The cutting boards are connectable in such a fashion that the work
surfaces are substantially co-planar.
A particular connecting structure is shown in the drawings for
purposes of illustration, although the invention is not limited to
any particular connecting structure. The supporting and locking
structure may take a variety of shapes so long as it provides
support to maintain the top working surfaces of both cutting boards
substantially in a common plane (some deviation may be necessary to
accommodate sinks with a divider lower than the sink rim) and to
lock the boards together to prevent inadvertent separation.
Depending on the materials from which the sections are formed, the
supporting and locking structure may be integral with the cutting
board, being molded or machined therein, or it may be formed from
separate elements and permanently attached to the cutting board
body.
In the form shown, a first connecting member 28 is fastened to a
lateral edge of the first cutting board 17. The connecting member
28 has a neck 29 connected at one side to the board 17, and a lip
30 connected to the other side of the neck 29, forming an upwardly
open hook-like structure. The top surface of neck 29 is parallel to
and recessed beneath the top of cutting board base 20. The top edge
of lip 30 extends above the top surface of neck 29 but still
beneath the working surface of cutting board 17. That is, lip 30
has a length and width greater than the neck 29 but less than the
corresponding dimensions of the lateral end of the first cutting
board 17. A top groove 32 is formed between the inner wall of lip
30 exposed above the neck 29, and the vertical side wall of the
lateral edge of cutting board 17.
In the top plan view of FIG. 8, it is seen that neck 29 is shorter
than the lateral edge of the cutting board. The lip 30 is also
shorter than the lateral edge of the cutting board 17 but longer
than the neck 29. A side groove 33 is formed on either side of neck
29 between the end of the head 30 and the end portion of the
lateral side of the cutting board 17. A connecting flange is formed
by the surfaces of lip 30 extending beyond the neck 29 and facing
the lateral edge of the base 20 of cutting board 17.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second cutting board 18 is provided
with a second connector in the form of a laterally and downwardly
open receptacle opening 36 for receipt of connecting member 28 on
the first cutting board 17. Receptacle opening 36 is a
complementary reverse image of connecting member 28 such that
connecting member 28 fits snugly within it. Receptacle opening 36
includes a first slot 38 formed in the lower lateral edge of the
second cutting board 18. The first slot 38 corresponds in length to
(but is slightly larger than) the length of the neck 29 on the
first cutting board, and corresponds in width to (but is slightly
larger than) the width of the neck 29 for close accommodation of
the neck 29. The second slot 39 is spaced in from the first slot 38
and is longer and wider. The second slot 39 has a length likewise
corresponding to the length of the lip 30 on the first cutting
board, and a width likewise corresponding to the width of the lip
30 for close accommodation of the lip 30.
The connecting member 28 fits in the receptacle opening 36 in
interlocking relationship. The inner slot 39 extends beyond the
length and depth of outer slot 38 whereby a cavity is formed to
hold the flange 35 when the first connecting member 28 is installed
in the receptacle opening 36. FIG. 7 shows the interlocking fit.
The inner lateral edge of the second cutting board is supported by
the first cutting board through the first connector 28 and is
interlocked by it in order to prevent inadvertent disengagement. At
the same time, the opposite or outer lateral edge of the second
cutting board is supported on the rim of the sink. The first
connector 28 and second connector 36 are dimensioned and spaced
such that upon interconnection, the work surfaces of the two
cutting boards are co-planar.
In use of the invention, the first cutting board is temporarily
installed on the divider of a double basin sink. The first cutting
board is so usable as a stand alone cutting board. The legs can be
permanently fixed to the bottom surface and spaced apart a distance
to accommodate a standard width sink divider. Alternatively, the
legs can be adjustable in position as shown in the drawings. As
needed, the second cutting board is connected to the first and
spans the length of a sink basin, with an opposite edge resting on
the sink rim.
The foregoing description is illustrative of one embodiment of the
invention. Various modifications and embodiments of the invention
will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from
the scope and spirit of the claims.
* * * * *